Intercontinental Barcelona hotel review: an impressive five-star in Barcelona's greenest district

Times

24-04-2025

Luxury hotels usually fall into two camps in top tourist cities such as Barcelona: corporate or cool. But with its location on a leafy Montjuic street that's walking distance to the botanical gardens and the Olympic Park, as well as a sleek rooftop pool, alfresco sky-high bar, and adventurous Catalan restaurant, the Intercontinental defies categorisation. Admittedly, bedroom interiors aren't trendsetting, but they are cooly neutral, as are the hotel lounges and cafés, and the size of the place (273 rooms) with the choice of spaces (up to two-bed suites) makes this a brilliant bet for families or big groups.
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Score 7/10This is a contemporary, purpose-built hotel rather than a historic conversion, so rooms are thoughtfully designed with plenty of space, high ceilings and lots of light. Most are Classics, which sleep three people thanks to a sofa bed, and have a variety of views — from the 'garden' (the hotel's inner courtyard with planting) through to the majestic Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya (MNAC). Bathrooms are smart and sensible, with no clear-glass doors or fancy sliding screens that often compromise on privacy.
You can't choose your outlook when you book but you can ask at check-in if MNAC views are available. Upgrading from that level, you've one-bed or two-bed suites to choose from — similarly neutral when it comes to interiors (navy carpets, leather headboards, marble bathrooms), but with nice perks such as a balcony or a kitchenette. There are no grander, more unusual suites than that; this hotel is about wealthy comfort rather than wow-factor.
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Score 9/10In such a gastronomic hub as Barcelona, it'd be easy for a hotel — certainly a luxury chain like Intercontinental — to give guests nothing more than a fillet steak and let them look elsewhere for culinary adventure. But the opening of one-Michelin-star Quirat shows how the hotel wishes to keep guests inside, as well as luring locals; the beautiful restaurant — serving seasonal Catalan cuisine such as white asparagus with cured pancetta and sobrasada with aniseed — even has its own separate entrance and a kitchen garden.
The Arrel restaurant serves Mediterranean food all day (and is where a triumph of a breakfast is served with lovely Spanish extras such as tortilla and jamon Iberico), while 173 Rooftop Terrace whips up inventive Med platters with 360-degree views to the Montjuic cable car and Sagrada Familia.
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Score 9/10Unusually for Barcelona, where space is at a premium, there is lots to do at this hotel beyond sleeping and drinking. Its subterranean spa has an impressive water circuit (caldarium and pediluvium included), dry sauna, hammam, hot tub and six treatment cabins, with rituals that go beyond the usual hotel facial or massage. The gym is bright and big, but it's the rooftop pool that turns Intercontinental Barcelona from a city-break hotel into proper holiday territory. You're on the seventh floor up here, with views of the Sagrada Familia. Glass walls mean you can watch swimmers at play in the pool from the comfort of your sun lounger or shaded wicker love seat.
Score 8/10As mentioned, this may be a non-descript modern building, but the tree-lined Montjuic streets make up for that in spades. You're 20 minutes' walk from the botanical gardens (featured in Monty Don's Spanish Gardens) as well as the Olympic Park and surrounding Jardins de Joan Maragall and Jardins de Laribal, which hold the Miró Foundation and other cultural venues.
It's not unlike staying in London's Hyde Park, where you have access to luxury hotels and galleries, but there's plenty of breathing space too (unlike cramped El Raval or the Gothic Quarter). Its location to the southwest of the centre — with a major road outside for transport — makes the Intercontinental popular with cruise-ship passengers and airport arrivals.
Price room-only doubles from £240Restaurant mains from £20Family-friendly YAccessible Y
Katie Bowman was a guest of Intercontinental Barcelona (ihg.com)
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